Floor cleaning and polishing machine

Abstract

The subject to this patent application is apparatus for mechanically varying the speed of a disk, such as a floor treating pad (18), mounted for rotation about the axis of elongation (20) of a shaft (38) powered by a fixed speed motor. The pad (18) is supported by a hub (40) disposed axially intermediate a flange member (74) fixedly attached to the shaft (38) and a sheave (66) disposed for rotation about the shaft (38), but at a speed different than that of the shaft (38). The invention includes means for keying the hub (40) to either the flange member (74) or the sheave (66), depending upon the desired speed of operation of the floor treating machine (10) of which the pad (18) is a part.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Apparatus for mechanically varying the speed of a disk driven rotationally about an axis by a power source, comprising: (a) means for supporting the disk relative to the axis, said supporting means being rotatably disposed about the axis;   (b) means for imparting rotational motion to said supporting means directly from the power source and at a fixed speed;   (c) a variant speed element mounted for rotation about the axis and geared from the power source to a different speed;   (d) means for selectively keying said supporting means to one of said direct rotational motion imparting means and said variant speed element.   
     
     
       2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said variant speed element is geared down from the fixed speed of the power source. 
     
     
       3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said direct rotational motion imparting means comprises a shaft having a generally vertical axis of elongation, said axis of elongation coinciding with the axis about which the disk is driven, and wherein said supporting means comprises a hub concentric to said shaft. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said selective keying means comprises a generally annular flange member fixedly keyed to said shaft. 
     
     
       5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said variant speed element comprises a substantially annular member having a platen surface facing said hub. 
     
     
       6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said flange member and said platen surface member axially straddle said hub, and wherein said selective keying means comprises said hub and said flange member each have one of a first pair of registrable holes formed therein and said hub and said platen surface member each have one of a second pair of registrable holes formed therein. 
     
     
       7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein said selective keying means comprises a pin selectively insertable through one of: said first pair of holes, when in registration, and said second pair of holes, when in registration; whereby, when said pin is inserted through said first pair of holes, said hub will rotate at the fixed speed of the power source, and, when said pin is inserted through said second pair of holes, said hub will rotate at the different geared speed. 
     
     
       8. A two-speed floor treating machine, comprising: (a) a housing disposed for movement over a floor surface;   (b) a shaft, having a generally vertically extending axis of elongation, extending below said housing;   (c) fixed speed power means for imparting rotational movement to said shaft about said axis;   (d) means for supporting a floor treating pad for rotation about said axis;   (e) a varient speed element mounted for rotation about said axis and at a speed different than that of said power means;   (f) means for gearing said shaft to said variant speed element; and   (g) means for selectively keying said supporting means to one of said shaft and said variant speed element.   
     
     
       9. A floor treating machine in accordance with claim 8 wherein said shaft has a lower end remote from said housing and wherein said selective keying means comprises a generally annular flange member, said shaft carries said flange member, keyed to said shaft, proximate said lower end. 
     
     
       10. A floor treating machine in accordance with claim 9 wherein said variant speed element comprises a sheave mounted to said shaft for rotation thereabout independent of shaft rotation. 
     
     
       11. A floor treating machine in accordance with claim 10 wherein said supporting means comprises a hub axially intermediate said flange member and said sheave. 
     
     
       12. A floor treating machine in accordance with claim 11 wherein said selective keying means comprises said hub and said flange member each having one of a first pair of registrable holes formed therein and said hub and said sheave each have one of a second pair of registrable holes formed therein, and a pin selectively insertable through one of said first pair of holes, when in registration, and said second pair of holes, when in registration. 
     
     
       13. A floor treating machine in accordance with claim 10 wherein said gearing means comprises said sheave, a first pulley, coaxial with said sheave, mounted and keyed to said shaft, and second and third pulleys, keyed together for joint rotation about a second axis spaced from, and generally parallel to, said axis of said shaft, said first and second pulleys being axially coextensive and being operatively connected by a first endless belt extending from said first pulley to said second pulley, and said third pulley and said sheave being axially coextensive and being operatively connected by a second endless belt extending from said third pulley to said sheave. 
     
     
       14. A floor treating machine in accordance with claim 13 wherein said sheave has a diameter greater than that of said third pulley and said second pulley has a diameter greater than that of said first pulley. 
     
     
       15. A floor treating machine in accordance with claim 14 wherein each of said sheave and said first, second, and third pulleys has an outer peripheral surface with a multiplicity of axially extending grooves formed therein, and wherein each of said belts has an inner surface having a multiplicity of tongues meshable with said grooves formed therein.